Simon. i'm sorry to read you have lost both parents.
this shunning practice has many variables. i'm sure those that practice 100% shunning do it as a sort of unsuccessful control mechanism. my born in first wife is in that category. she shuns our son--because he left her religion simple as that. so--it hasnt worked for her. he's free of it--has a happy and successful life and new family. shes the misery. getting older by the day--70 next birthday. no doubt praying fervently for the end of this wicked system.
when my old dad--a more open minded sort of dub--died 2 years back--i was the one to organise his funeral.
after checking his will with our family solicitor--there was no mention of any specific funeral arrangements--i arranged a simple non-religious commital. no service--no prayers--no songs. and i certainly did not notify his former congregation. i did not want any involvement with those hypocrites.
he will live on in my memory--and when i'm gone--so will he.
